USPS mail to delay long distance items starting Oct. 1
![U.S. Postal Service carrier John Graham drives a 28-year-old delivery truck while making's rounds, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Portland, Maine.](https://kstp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kstp_1280USPSTruckMaineAP.jpg)
U.S. Postal Service carrier John Graham drives a 28-year-old delivery truck while making's rounds, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Portland, Maine. [AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty]
The United States Post Office (USPS) announced some changes are ahead starting Oct. 1. However, most First-Class Mail and periodicals will not be affected.
Starting Friday, the USPS will implement new service standards for First-Class Mail and periodicals that include increasing delivery reliability, consistency and efficiency for customers.
According to USPS, 60% of First-Class Mail and 93% of periodicals will be unaffected by these changes and remain at the same rate as it currently stands to reach customers in a local area. Overall, 70% of First-Class Mail volume would receive a standard of 1-3 business days.
However, the Postal Service will increase time-in-transit standards by one or two days for certain mail that is traveling longer distances.
"By doing so, the Postal Service can entrust its ground network to deliver more First-Class Mail, which will lead to greater consistency, reliability, and efficiency that benefits its customers," the USPS said.
The changes are part of a plan to improve service reliability and predictability for customers to enhance the efficiency of the network.
The Postal Service’s goal is to consistently meet a 95% mark of service performance.
The following is a list of the new service standards:
For more information on the upcoming changes and the service’s initiatives, click here.